Afterwards Brother Copas repented that he had not answered more graciously: for afterwards, looking back, he perceived that, in some way, the Pageant had actually helped to bring back a sense of "corporate unity" to St. Hospital.
Even then, and for months later, he missed to recognise Corona's share in it. What was she but a child?
"Is it true what I hear?" asked Mrs. Royle, intercepting him one day as he carried his plate of fast-cooling meat from the kitchen.
"Probably not," said Brother Copas.
"They tell me Bonaday's daughter has been singled out among all the school children—Greycoats and others—to be Queen of the May, or something of the kind, in this here Pageant."
"Yes, that is a fact."
"Oh!… I suppose it's part of your sneering way to make little of it. I call it an honour to St. Hospital."
"The deuce you do?"
"And what's more," added Mrs. Royle, "she mustn't let us down by appearing in rags."
"I hope we can provide against that."